Stumptown Soundcheck

Sound can connect us—to nature, to music and to one another—but sharing space also requires understanding and consideration. Music Advocacy Council Sound Committee co-chairs Derek Trost and Brendy Hale join host Anthony Messano to discuss why updating Portland’s noise code may be the clearest and most practical way to accommodate musicians practicing and rehearsing at home, and how community feedback can help create a better understanding of the needs of musicians and their neighbors.

MusicOregon’s Statewide Listening Tour set out to hear directly from musicians, venue operators and music professionals across Oregon about what’s working, what’s missing and what support local music communities need most. Tim Wilson, Dick Huey and Cheri Jamison join host Veronica Bisesti to share the tour’s biggest takeaways, the differences they heard from region to region and what comes next.

What happens when live music becomes part of the soundtrack to your day? This month on Stumptown Soundcheck, host Anthony Messano welcomes David Pollack & Johnny Franco of Curbside Serenade, along with Paul Van Orden from the City of Portland's Noise Program, for a conversation about busking, public spaces, and how music, community, and thoughtful policy come together to shape the places we share.

If you’ve tried to buy a concert ticket lately, you know how frustrating it’s become. Oregon is stepping in with new laws aimed at bots, deceptive practices, and speculative ticketing—but will they actually change the experience for fans, artists, and venues? Host Anthony Messano is joined by Jimi Biron and Kevin Erickson to explore what these reforms get right, where they fall short, and what it might really take to fix the system.

Music festivals don’t just happen—they’re built. We talk with Chad Colwell (Jackalope Jamboree) and Christina Fuller (Waterfront Blues Festival) about what it really takes to create festivals in the Pacific Northwest.

This episode of Stumptown Soundcheck unpacks the merger between MusicPortland and MusicOregon — what changed, what didn’t, and why it matters to everyone in the music ecosystem. Host Anthony Messano talks with Music Oregon Board President Tim Wilson and Music Portland board member (and former president) Kate O’Brien about advocacy, statewide expansion, and the real impact these organizations have behind the scenes. From policy wins to artist investment and membership changes, they clarify the biggest misconceptions and explain who should be paying attention now. If you’re an artist, venue, or industry worker wondering who’s fighting for music in Oregon, this conversation is for you.

Portland is in the middle of another transition, and conversations about safety, culture, and identity often blur together. On this episode of Stumptown Soundcheck, host Anthony Messano is joined by Marshall Runkel, political strategist and longtime Portland civic advocate, to talk through how music and cultural policy intersect with the city’s future. The conversation touches on public investment in arts and entertainment, statewide support for cultural infrastructure, and why music venues matter beyond nightlife. Rather than revisiting what’s been lost, the episode looks toward what could be built next.

With new host Anthony Messano at the helm, Stumptown Soundcheck digs into one of the most universal — and maddening — parts of Portland’s live-music experience: parking. Joined by venue leaders Cheri Jamison (Alberta Abbey) and Jimi Byron (McMenamins/Crystal Ballroom), the conversation explores how parking availability influences ticket sales, audience turnout, artist load-ins, neighborhood relations, and overall venue operation

In this special episode, Stumptown Soundcheck brings you inside the Arts & Economy Committee meeting of August 12 2025. Councilor Jamie Dunphy introduces “The State of Portland’s Music Economy,” a presentation that examines the scale, significance and vulnerability of the city’s independent music sectorportland.gov. You’ll hear from Grammy‑winning artist Esperanza Spalding, who reflects on the importance of community music programs; Mara McLaughlin of Music Portland, who presents economic data showing how Portland’s music scene outpaces many other industries; and venue operator Jim Brunberg, who explains why independent venues are cultural and economic anchors. The meeting also features policy proposals—ranging from agent‑of‑change development guidelines to noise‑code reforms—and public testimony highlighting the need for living wages and more rehearsal space. Whether you’re a music enthusiast, a policymaker or someone curious about how music shapes Portland’s identity, this episode offers a front‑row seat to a pivotal discussion about the future of the city’s music ecosystemportland.gov.

Portland’s indie heartbeat is loud—but can it keep tempo as the city leans harder into big-league sports? Host Jamie Dunphy sits down with two insiders who live at that intersection: DJ OG One (official DJ of the Portland Trail Blazers) and Jami Duffy (Executive Director, Youth on Record; Co‑Manager, Underground Music Showcase; Denver Cultural Affairs Commissioner). Together they unpack how arena culture, public policy, and grassroots scenes collide— from the WNBA’s return to Rip City to Denver’s stadium districts and community benefit agreements.

OG One shares how he’s turned the Moda Center into a platform for local artists—slotting indie tracks into game ops, building halftime/concourse showcases, and creating a pipeline that trains young DJs for pro teams. Duffy offers a playbook from a championship sports town: treating music and sports as one entertainment ecosystem, getting artists at the table early, and safeguarding independent venues when shiny new stadiums add concerts to their calendars.

In this episode:

Sports investment vs. arts investment—and where policy actually moves the needle

Practical ways teams can platform local musicians (and why intention matters)

Stadium districts, noise, and CBAs: protecting neighbors and nightlife

How music and sports fans can learn from each other to build a more inclusive scene

A candid, actionable conversation about identity, equity, and the future of Portland’s culture. Press play and join the huddle.